With Qatar leading the way in Group A, Friday’s narrow 1-0 defeat to an impressive Uzbekistan side left the host nation occupying third spot in Group A, a position which does not afford them a place in the next phase of the tournament.

However, with a vital game against the Qataris to come on Monday at the Changzhou Olympic Sports Centre, both Zhang and Tang are fully focussed on the task that lies ahead.

“We have to make sure we play a better game against Qatar,” declared talented Werder Bremen striker Zhang.

“We must ensure that we qualify for the next round by getting over the defeat against Uzbekistan and focussing on our match against Qatar.”

The win leaves the Central Asians level with China on three points and, and with Qatar defeating Oman 1-0 in the day's second match, both teams can still genuinely harbour ambitions of sealing a spot in the quarter-finals with one game apiece still to play.

Uzbekistan, who made a raft of changes to their starting 11 in the wake of Tuesday’s defeat to Qatar, were the first to threaten on a chilly afternoon in Jiangsu province, Dostonbek Khamdamov whipping in a 10th minute free-kick that China goalkeeper Zhou Yuchen did well to gather at his near post.

Their fine early endeavours were though to be rewarded just four minutes later when defender Alijonov made the most of poor Chinese defending to fire a left footed shot across Zhou and into the far corner of the net.

China responded well to the setback, Gao Zunhyi seeing his firm header cleared off the line by Doniyorjon Narzullaev, and Wei Shihao having a shot smothered by Uzbekistan custodian Botirali Ergashev following fine work down the right by Ba Dun shortly after the half hour mark.

In the last meaningful action of an entertaining first half Ergashev then pulled off a superb flying save to push away Yao Junsheng’s headed attempt from a pinpoint Liu Yiming delivery.

The hard-fought victory, coupled with Qatar’s earlier defeat of Uzbekistan by a similar scoreline, leaves the West Asians flying high at the summit and within touching distance of a place in the quarter-finals.

However, despite his side’s fine run of form, and with a final group stage game still to come against China on Monday, Al Rawi insists that nothing has been achieved just yet.

“We played well versus Oman, we gave our best and we got the three points,” said the talented Al Duhail defender who was a member of the Qatar squad at the 2016 edition of the AFC U23 Championship.

“At this stage (of the tournament), we always play to win and to get those all-important three points.

“We have six points, but that doesn't mean we have qualified. We need to take three points against China.”

With one round of matches still to play, the victory lifts Qatar to top spot in Group A on six points, three ahead of both host nation China PR and Uzbekistan, while Oman are fourth and still searching for their first points of the tournament. Uzbekistan beat China 1-0 in the day's earlier match.

In a first half of few genuine chances, Qatar threatened first when Afif curled an early shot wide, before Oman midfielder Jameel Al Yahmadi released Muhsen Al Ghassani who could only screw his 22nd minute shot wide of Ibrahim Al Mukhaini’s right hand post when through on goal.

Al Mukhaini was then forced into action some 10 minutes later, the custodian reacting well to tip a firm Bassam Al Rawi header over the bar following Ahmad Moein’s pinpoint free-kick.